Things are looking up for skiers and snowboarders in Queensland and New South Wales wanting to access the snowfields of Australia this winter.
Qantas are launching three new seasonal routes to address the domestic demand for holidays at home while international borders remain closed.
The new routes will launch July 1 and finish September 26 for access to both New South Wales and Victoria ski fields.
The airline will operate routes between Sydney and Cooma, Brisbane and Cooma and Brisbane and Albury. Sydney to Cooma will operate three days per week and Brisbane to Cooma two days per week and Brisbane to Albury three days per week.
From Cooma, customers can access the popular resorts of Perisher Valley, Thredbo and Charlotte Pass in New South Wales. From Albury, customers can access Falls Creek and Hotham resorts in Victoria.
All flights will be operated by QantasLink’s turboprop Q400 aircraft, offering more than 15,000 seats on the routes through winter.
Flights from Sydney to Cooma are timed to allow travellers to depart after work on a Thursday or Friday and return Sunday evening, which enables them to enjoy a long weekend of skiing without needing to drive.
The flights from Brisbane will also offer Queenslanders the only direct airline connection to the snowfields this season.
Fares for flights between Sydney and Cooma are available from $179 one-way and flights from Brisbane to Cooma and Albury are available from $239 one-way at qantas.com or through Travel Agents. Qantas Frequent Flyers can book reward seats from Sydney to Cooma for 8,000 Qantas Points one-way and from Brisbane to Cooma and Albury for 12,000 Qantas Points one-way.
Ski and snowboard equipment can be included as part of the checked baggage allowance.
To help offset some of the uncertainty on borders, Qantas is offering unlimited flight changes through to at least February 2022, for flights booked until at least the end of April 2021. The flight date can be changed to any available for sale at the time (up to 355 days in advance). Qantas will waive the change fee however a fare difference may apply.
QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the new routes would make it easier for Australians to access the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps this winter.
“With international border closures meaning more Australians are planning their next holiday closer to home, we are creating more travel options where there is demand,” said Gissing.
“We’re expecting these flights will be popular with skiers and snowboarders who might not have been able to hit the slopes through COVID last season in Australia or overseas.”
